Torleif Thedéen Bach Cello Suites CD BIS-CD 803/804. Also available on digital platforms. Auditioned on Tidal FLAC 16/44.1
Recorded October 1995 to March 1999
Venue Lanna Church Sweden
Cello played made by David Tecchler in 1711 formerly played by Lynn Harrell.
Introduction.
I have to own up and admit that this recording has been under my radar until I heard the renown blogger Dave Hurwitz of Classics Today include it in his best five renditions of the Suites.
The Cellist.
Torleif Thedéen is described in his web site biography as one of the most distinguished instrumentalists in the Nordic countries. From the reviews of Bach cello Suites I have completed to date I would suggest that this claim is in effect to be the best of the very best! The list of excellent cellists includes Mork, Bengtsson, Helmerson, Moldrup, Rautio, Zeuthen, and Ylonen. In fact, Thedéen studied with Helmerson when aged 15. He then went on to study with William Pleeth and Jacqueline Du Pre, Heinrich Schiff and Paul Tortelier. I suspect these are mainly master class lessons as opposed to one-on-one tutorage.
Thedéen made quite an impact in 1985, winning 3 major competitions in that year. He has gone on to make a successful international career as soloist, chamber musician and teacher.
The recording.
My only comment about this recording is that it does have quite a significant reverberation presumably from the Church. As I have mentioned in previous reviews, I would suggest that Churches are good for the performer in making it easier to produce an impressive sound. However, they do present quite a challenge to the producer of the recording and thereby the listener if the reverberation is not controlled adequately. In this case it is ok, but my preference would have been for a little less. (Ask AI for difference between Echo and Reverberation). The six Suites do seem to have taken a significant period to record being stretched out over a four year period but this seems to have been managed well so as not to impact on the continuity of the recording.
The music.
Thedéen appears to have employed a modern set up but with restrained vibrato, good articulation, unforced sound, impeccable intonation and sublime phrasing. The result is an outstanding recording where the polyphony is easy to pick out, the sense of progression and rhythm present at all times.
In short, rather than waste time reading this review just find the recording on your streaming provider and enjoy!
Summary.
In short this is a likely contender for our favourite five recordings. The only problem is working out which other to drop! Unless you are an avid baroque enthusiast, this has everything. Dynamics, rhythm, technical virtuosity, musicality and that hard to define call to return to the play button time and again!
Charles.